Meet the NZRA Exec
| A/Prof William Levack - NZRA PresidentAlter Ego: Professor of Rehabilitation; Dean & Head of Campus for University of Otago, Wellington. Bio: William was previously the Academic Head of the Rehabilitation Teaching & Research Unit at the University of Otago Wellington; currently the Head of Campus. His research interests include goal setting, interprofessional practice, patient engagement in rehabilitation, and self-management of chronic health conditions, with a particular focus on chronic respiratory and neurological rehabilitation. Theme song: "It must be love" (Madness) |
 | Dr Felicity Bright - NZRA SecretaryAlter Ego: Senior Lecturer, Rehabilitation, Auckland University of Technology Bio: Felicity Bright is a speech-language therapist. She is a senior lecturer in Rehabilitation at Auckland University of Technology and is a researcher within the Centre for Person Centred Research. Her research brings together her expertise in rehabilitation and speech-language therapy, exploring engagement, therapeutic relationships and health communication, with a particular focus on enhancing healthcare services for people experiencing communication disability.
Theme song: "Stay Outta My Business" (Tami Neilson) |
 | Jono Boyce - NZRA TreasurerAlter Ego: Head of Programme Group, New Product Development at Synlait Milk. Bio: Jono has a commercial finance background with qualifications in law and financial accounting. Jono spent a number of years in public practice, focusing mainly on transaction and due Diligence services and international tax. In 2016 Jono changed carriers and moved into the primary sector where he leads the new product development projects group for NZX listed company Synlait Milk. Jono has led the Treasury functions of a number of other incorporated societies and has been building his governance capability through a mixture of these roles and in his career. Theme song: "Dance yourself clean" (LCD Sound System) |
| Dr Rachelle Martin - NZRA CommunicationsAlter Ego: Rehabilitation & Knowledge Translation Lead, Burwood Academy of Independent Living (BAIL); Professional Practice Fellow, RTRU, Department of Medicine, University of Otago Wellington. Bio: Rachelle is a 'new and emerging' clinical researcher who worked as a physiotherapist for >20 years, and then decided to do a Masters and PhD in rehabilitation (finishing this in 2018). She is involved in a range of research projects focusing on outcomes that are prioritised by people living with the experience of disability. At the moment these involve: peer support after SCI, incontinence after stroke, preventing falls in rehabilitation wards, and evaluating the provision of rehabilitation services to people with SCI. Rachelle tends to approach her research through a realist research and evaluation lens. Theme song: "Beautiful Things" (Gungor) |
| A/Prof Nicola Kayes - NZRA Ex-presidentAlter Ego: Associate Professor of Rehabilitation and Director, Centre for Person Centred Research in the School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology Bio: Nicola is a senior lecturer and researcher passionate about advancing knowledge and practice in rehabilitation. Her specialist research expertise draws insights from the intersection between health psychology and rehabilitation exploring how people think, feel and behave following injury and illness, the role of the rehabilitation practitioner and their way of working as a critical factor in rehabilitation, and whether shifting practice and the way we work with people can optimise outcome. Theme song: "Romeo and Juliet” (Indigo Girls) |
| Annie JonesAlter Ego: Clinical Partner - ACC Bio: After working for 15 years as a Physiotherapist across a wide variety of setting I specialised in Spinal Cord Injury working at the Burwood Spinal Unit. In 2014 I decided to join ACC. Initially as a Case Manager and then a Rehabilitation Advisor. I now work as a Clinical Partner in which we aim to help ACC align with the Health Sector. This involves relationship management with Allied Health Professional Groups and Subject Matter advisory function for the wider ACC. I remain interested in Rehabilitation Research and Practice with a strong interest in person centred approaches, Serious injury, New Technology and Health Policy. I am proud member of rainbow community, a dog mother and enjoy ocean swimming and lots of coffee! Theme song: “Take a Chance on Me” (Abba) |
| Dr Leanne ParkerAlter Ego: Rehabilitation Physician, Southern Rehab and NZALS Bio: Leanne is a clinician practicing largely in community rehabilitation settings, primarily working in mild to moderate brain injury, pain management, complex trauma and orthopaedic rehabilitation and amputee rehabilitation. She has previously worked in spinal cord injuries rehabilitation in an inpatient setting. When Leanne is not working she enjoys spending time with her children and family, and being in the outdoors, especially the beach and the water. Theme song: "The Chain" (Fleetwood Mac) |
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Dr Jo Nunnerley
Alter Ego: Academy Director, Burwood Academy of Independent Living; Research Fellow, University of Otago, Christchurch
Bio: Jo is the Academy Director at the Burwood Academy of Independent Living (BAIL), Christchurch, New Zealand. She is also a Reseach Fellow in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch. Her research interests include employment and community participation after spinal cord injury and knowledge translation.
Theme song: "Numb" (Linkin Park)